Apparatus for generating fuel gas



June 29, 1937. H. E. RIDER APPARATUS FOR GENERATING FUEL GAS Filed May 8, 1934 INVENTOR- BY M/JX & W ATTORNEY.

Patented June 29, 1937 PATENT OFFICE 2,085,510 APPARATUS FOR GENERATING FUEL GAS Herbert E. Rider, New York,

N. Y., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Henry L. Rosenfeld, Jr. Application May 8, 1934, Serial No. 724,519

3 Claims.

My invention relates to gas generating apparatus and processes of making hydro-carbon gas. The principal object of my invention is to provide an improved gas generating apparatus of simple construction for generating gas from oil which shall have a high thermal content suitable for brazing and cutting refractory metals.

Referring to the drawing which illustrates my invention and forms a part of this specification, the figure discloses a furnace II] which may be heated by gas generated in the apparatus or by any desired heating means. I prefer to use the gas generated by the apparatus, thus making a complete independent unit. The gas for heating the retort II may be led from the gasometer I2 by a pipe leading to the burner I3.

I4 indicates a tank for fuel oil and I5 is a tank for holding water in which is intimately incorporated a mixture of molasses, saltpeter and nitric acid in the following proportions: One gallon of molasses, twenty grains of saltpeter, and one quarter fluid ounce of nitric acid to ninetynine gallons of water, This mixture is led to the retort in the proportion of one part of the water mixture to three parts of oil from tank I4.

The retort II is suspended from a cap plate I6 which rests onthe upper end of the furnace wall, as illustrated.

The retort comprises a U-shaped tube which is provided with flanges I'I-I'I respectively, at each end, and a helical tube or coil I8 which extends from the upper side of the U at II and discharges into pipe I9 leading to the gasometer I2. A tank 20 is provided for holding the gas generated in the retort under a pressure of about 25 pounds compressed by a pump 2I which draws gas from the gasometer thru pipe 22. 2323 respectively, indicate atomizers located in the opposite ends of the U-shaped tube of the retort to which gas is led from the tank 20 thru valves 24-24, respectively. Valve 25 controls the oil supply from tank I4 to its atomizer, and valve 26 controls the flow of mixture from tank I5 to its atomizer. Valve 2'! controls the fiow of gas from tank 20 to the oil tank I4, and valve 28 controls the gas fiow to the mixture tank I5.

The use of the gas to atomize the mixture and the oil dispenses with the use of steam or air, thus providing air-free means for atomizingpurposes.

The operation is as follows: The tank 20 may be charged with ordinary illuminating gas in first starting the operation, under a pressure of twenty-five pounds gage. The retort is first heated to a temperature suflicient to gasify the oil, and water mixture, the valves being first closed. The valves 24 are then opened and thereafter the valves 21 and 28 are opened to admit gas to the tanks I2 and I4, whereupon the valves 25 and 26 are opened and, by properly adjusting them, the oil and water mixture are introduced into the retort in the proper proportions, about three parts oil to one part of the water mixture, in finely atomized condition, and converted into gases. The respective gases then mix in the lower end of the retort and flow into the superheater coil and thence into the gasometer.

If desired, cooling means may be used to cool the gas after it leaves the coil and prior to its passage into the gasometer. It will be understood that the gas pressure in the retort and gasometer is very low relative to that in the tanks. Also, it will be noted that the use of the fuel gas product as a medium for exerting feed pressure on the contents of the tanks I4 and I5 obtains a safety from fire or explosion not possible where air might be permitted to enter the system.

The foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing discloses the principles of an apparatus which will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains and'comprises what I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof. I desire to have it understood, apparatus shown is merely illustrative and that such changes may be made, when desired, as fall within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A gas generator comprising a heating chamber, a retort of U-shape suspended in said chamber from the cover thereof, an atomizer for liquid located at each upper end of said retort, and a super-heating unit having its lower end in communication with said retort near the middle thereof, and an outlet for gas at the other end of said unit.

2. A gas generator comprising a heating chamber, a vertically extending U-shaped cylindrical retort suspended from the cover of said heating chamber, the upper ends of the retort being provided with means for delivering fluids therein, and an outlet conduit from said retort conhowever, that the 30 nected therewith at a point adjacent its lower 5 end.

3. A construction as defined in claim 2, having a super-heater located between the arms of the U-shaped retort and connected therewith at its lower end.

. HERBERT E. RIDER. 

